A loyalist mob attack nationalist homes in north Belfast
yesterday before attacking police who attempted to intervene.

Scores attacked homes and property in the Cavehill area.
Windows at two houses were broken, a car was damaged and a
number of bins along the road were overturned and rubbish
strewn across the road, she said. One bin was also set alight.

Police officers called to deal with the incident were
assulted, with eight reported to have received minor injuries.
Three people were arrested for public order offences.

The Police Ombudsman's office is investigating the clash,
which was condemned by nationalist representatives.

Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said yesterday's attacks on
nationalist homes were symptomatic of a growing trend.

Mr Kelly pointed out that at least 12 homes had in recent
weeks been targeted by loyalist gangs firing ball bearings
from gas-powered pistols.

``One of the people whose home has had these ball bearings
fired at it belongs to an elderly woman who is now afraid to
go back into her house,'' the North Belfast assembly member
said.

``The PSNI is playing down these ball bearing attacks but we
are very concerned about it,'' he said.

Mr Kelly showed some of the ball bearings fired and an air
pistol of the type used to shoot them.

``They are very dangerous. I have kids in the house and if any
of these hit a child it could seriously injure them,'' he said.

``These weapons use a gas cylinder to fire the ball bearings.
It's not illegal to have them, even if anyone is caught, and
they are easily got across the counter.''

He said the houses which had had ball bearings shot at them
were ``not being attacked at random''.

``The information (of who lives where) has to come from
somewhere in the crown forces,'' he said.

``Here we have another example of collusion being used to
attack nationalist homes.''

PIPE BOMB

Meanwhile, a young child was among a number of people who
escaped injury when a pipe bomb exploded outside a house in
Ballynahinch yesterday morning.

The device exploded and broke a front window shortly after
2am. Several people were in the house when the device
exploded, but none were injured.